Dummy bar for continuous casting

ABSTRACT

A dummy bar for use in a continuous casting operation is comprised of a series of parts which are linked together to pivot about parallel axes. Each joint between adjacent parts includes an end of one of the parts and a pivoting axle mounting the other adjacent part pivotally on the one part. A peg or pin is affixed to either the end of the one part or the pivoting axle and is received in a closed seat of either the pivoting axle or the end of the one part with sufficient play to permit a limited angular movement between the parts transversely of the pivoting axis.

United States Patent [191 Pietryka Mar. 18, 1975 DUMMY BAR FORCONTINUOUS CASTING [75] Inventor: Joseph Pietryka, Paris, France [73]Assignee: Fives Lille-Cail, Paris, France 1 [22] Filed: Mar. 26, 1973[21] Appl. No.: 344,648

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 164/274 Vertesi 164/274 12/1970Danieli...

12/1971 Knell ..164/274 4/1972 Yu 164/274 1 ABSTRACT A dummy bar for usein a continuous casting operation is comprised of a series of partswhich are linked together to pivot about parallel axes. Each jointbetween adjacent parts includes an end of one of the parts and apivoting axle mounting the other adjacent part pivotally on the onepart. A peg or pin is affixed to either the end of the one part or thepivoting'axle and is received in a closed seat of either the pivotingaxle or the end of the one part with sufficient play to permit a limitedangular movement between the parts transversely of the pivoting axis.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DUMMY BAR FOR CONTINUOUSCASTING The presentinvention relates to improvements in dummy or starting bars used incontinuous metal casting operations and of the type comprising a seriesof parts linked together so that the dummy bar may pass readily througha curved path while the dummy bar parts pivot about axes substantiallyparallel to each other.

In the continuous casting of metals, the liquid metal is poured into thetop of a tubular mold which is open at the bottom andthe solidified orpartly solidified casting is withdrawn from the bottom of the mold andpassed through a curved apron below the mold. In starting the castingoperation, the open end of the mold is sealed by a dummy or starting barwhich is gripped by withdrawal rolls mounted along the apron to pull thecasting out of the mold while it remains attached to the dummy bar. Atthe start, the positioning of the dummy bar is facilitated by limitingthe angular movements of the dummy bar links in such a manner that thedummy bar can be curved or articulated only in one direction, beginningfrom a rectilinear position, with a minimal radius of curvature which isonly slightly less than that of the apron.

To provide this limitation of respective angular movements ofthe dummybar parts, their adjacent ends have been provided with abutments whichprevent angular movements beyond a selected limit. However, while thedummy bars are stored between starts of casting runs and/or while theyare handled, foreign bodies may enter and become lodged between theabutments. These foreign bodies will then interfere with the angularmovements of the dummy bar parts and prevent them from assuming theirdesired position. They may even create shearing stresses in the pivotingaxles joining the adjacent dummy bar parts when the same are pivoted inrespect of each other during their passage over the curved apron.

It is the primary object of this invention to overcome this disadvantageby providing interior abutments closed off from the outside and which,therefore, permit no access of foreign bodies thereto.

The above and other objects are accomplished by the invention withjoints interconnecting each two adjacent dummy part, each of the jointsincluding as a first element an end of one of the adjacent parts and asa second element a pivoting axle extending in a respective one of theparallel pivoting axes. The pivoting axle mounts the other adjacent partpivotally on the one adjacent part. According to the present invention,a member, such as a peg or pin, is affixed to one of the elements and isreceived in a closed seat in the other element with sufficient play topermit a selected angular movement between the parts transversely to thepivoting axis.

The above and other objects, advantages and fea- FIG. 5 is a sectionalview of a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawing and and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the dummyor starting bar used in a continuous casting operation is comprised of aseries of jointed links or parts of two alternating types, similar to alink chain, as shown in the partial view of FIG. 1. One type of thelinks is constituted by bars 10 whose two ends are H-shaped to definerespective recesses receiving the ends ofthe other type of links whichare constituted by simple rods 12. The rod ends are received in therecesses with a slight play and are pivotally mounted therein by meansof respective pivoting axles l6 journaled in the jaws of the H-shapedends of bar 10 to provide an articulated joint between the bars and therods. Two successive bars are joined together by two rods, each at oneend.

As shown in FIG. 1, each pivoting axle 16 is mounted in the jaws 14, 14of the H-shaped ends of bar 10 by mounting pins 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates the connection between the pivoting axle 16 and therod 12 which the axle articulately joins to bar 10. As shown, the axlecarries a peg 20 projecting radially from the circumference of the axleand fixed thereto by screw 22. A groove or keyway 24 extends in adirection parallel to the axle in the wall of bore 26 of rod 12wherethrough the axle is journaled. The peg 20 projects into keyway 24but the width of the keyway exceeds that of the peg whereby the playbetween the peg and keyway permits a limited rotation of rod 12 aboutaxle 16. The relative dimensions between the peg 20 and keyway 24 are soselected that engage ment of the peg with one side wall of the keywaycorresponds to the rectilinear form of the dummy bar while theengagement of the peg with the opposite side wall ofthe keywaycorresponds to the smallest radius of cur vature to which the jointeddummy bar must be flexed during the operation.

The keyway 24 extends the entire length of the bore 26 and its ends maybe closed by washers interposed between jaws I4, 14 and rod 12 to form aclosed seat for peg 20.

In the modification of FIG. 5, which functions in an equivalent manner,the peg 20' is fixed to rod 12' and an axially extending keyway in axle16' receives the peg with the same type of play as describedhereinabove. In this case, the peg is provided with a head which may bereceived in a matching recess in the outer wall of rod 12' so that thepeg may be mounted in place from the outside after the parts have beenassembled, which permits the keyway in the axle to be shorter than theaxle. After the peg has been emplaced, access to the axle and the borereceiving it has been completely closed so that no foreign bodies mayenter the joint. The peg may again be fixed by screws and likefasteners.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the end of rod 12" carries pin 30which is force-fit into diametrically opposed bores 32 in the rod, bores32 being aligned with a diameter of bore 26' which receives thepivotingaxle 16". The axle has a diametrically extending transverse bore 36through which pin 30 extends, the axle 16" again being journaletl in thejaws of the end of bar 10' in any suitable manner, for instance as shownin FIG. 1.

The transverse bore 36 has a central straight section at the level ofthe axis of articulation 34, whose diameter is substantially equal tothat of pin 30, and flares outwardly towards the ends of the bore topermit an angular movement of the pin in respect of the axle so that therod 12" may be correspondingly pivoted in respect of bar No foreignbodies can penetrate into bore 36, which forms a closed seat for pin 30,so that the angular movements of the joined dummy bar parts will not beimpeded.

If desired, the axle 16 may be integral with rod 12" and the pin 30 maybe integral with bar 10.

The invention may be used in connection with any dummy bar used incontinuous casting operations wherein the bar is constituted by a seriesof jointed links or parts for use if casting in a curved path.

What is claimed is:

l. A dummy bar for use in a continuous casting operation and comprisedof a series of parts linked together, a joint interconnecting each twoadjacent ones of the dummy bar parts for enabling the parts to pivotabout an axis, and the pivoting axes of all joints being substantiallyparallel to each other, each of'the joints including an end of one ofthe adjacent parts and a pivoting axle fast with the end of the otheradjacent part and extending in a respective one of the axes, thepivoting axle passing through a bore in the one adjacent part andmounting the one adjacent part pivotally on the other adjacent part, apeg affixed to the pivoting axle and received in a keyway in the boreextending in an axial direction, the width of the keyway exceeding thatof the peg with sufficient play to permit only a selected angularmovement between the parts transversely of the pivoting axis, and meansfor closing the ends of the keyway from the outside.

2. A dummy bar for use in a continuous casting operation and comprisedof a series of parts linked together, a joint interconnecting each twoadjacent ones of the dummy bar parts for enabling the parts to pivotabout an axis, and the pivoting-axes of all joints being substantiallyparallel to each other, eachof the joints including an end of one of theadjacent parts and a pivoting axle fast with the end of the-otheradjacent part and extending in a respective one of the axes. thepivoting axle mounting the one adjacent part pivotally on the otheradjacent part, a peg affixed to the one adjacent part and received in akeyway in the pivoting axle, the width of the keyway exceeding that ofthe peg with sufficient play to permit only a selected angular movementbetween the parts transversely of the pivoting axis, and the keywayending short of the ends of the pivoting axle whereby it is closed fromthe outside.

3. A dummy bar for use in a continuous casting operation and comprisedof a series of parts linked together, a joint interconnecting each twoadjacent ones of the dummy bar parts for enabling the parts .to pivotabout an axis, and the pivoting axes of all joints being substantiallyparallel to each other, each of the joints including an end of one ofthe adjacent parts and a pivoting axle fast with the end of the otheradjacent part and extending in a respective one of the axes, thepivoting axle mounting the one adjacent part pivotally on the otheradjacent part, a pin affixed to the one adjacent part and extendingtransversely to the pivoting axis through a diametrical bore in thepivoting axle, the transverse bore having a central straight section atthe level of the pivoting axis whose diameter is substantially equal tothat of the pin, and the transverse bore being closed off from theoutside and flaring outwardly towards the ends thereof with sufficientplay between the outwardly flaring ends and the pin to permit only aselected angular movement between the parts transversely of the pivotingaxis.

1. A dummy bar for use in a continuous casting operation and comprisedof a series of parts linked together, a joint interconnecting each twoadjacent ones of the dummy bar parts for enabling the parts to pivotabout an axis, and the pivoting axes of all joints being substantiallyparallel to each other, each of the joints including an end of one ofthe adjacent parts and a pivoting axle fast with the end of the otheradjacent part and extending in a respective one of the axes, thepivoting axle passing through a bore in the one adjacent part andmounting the one adjacent part pivotally on the other adjacent part, apeg affixed to the pivoting axle and received in a keyway in the boreextending in an axial direction, the width of the keyway exceeding thatof the peg with sufficient play to permit only a selected angularmovement between the parts transversely of the pivoting axis, and meansfor closing the ends of the keyway from the outside.
 2. A dummy bar foruse in a continuous casting operation and comprised of a series of partslinked together, a joint interconnecting each two adjacent ones of thedummy bar parts for enabling the parts to pivot about an axis, and thepivoting axes of all joints being substantially parallel to each other,each of the joints including an end of one of the adjacent parts and apivoting axle fast with the end of the other adjacent part and extendingin a respective one of the axes, the pivoting axle mounting the oneadjacent part pivotally on the other adjacent part, a peg affixed to theone adjacent part and received in a keyway in the pivoting axle, thewidth of the keyway exceeding that of the peg with sufficient play topermit only a selected angular movement between the parts transverselyof the pivoting axis, and the keyway ending short of the ends of thepivoting axle whereby it is closed from the outside.
 3. A dummy bar foruse in a continuous casting operation and comprised of a series of partslinked together, a joint interconnecting each two adjacent ones of thedummy bar parts for enabling the parts to pivot about an axis, and thepivoting axes of all joints being substantially parallel to each other,each of the joints including an end of one of the adjacent parts and apivoting axle fast with the end of the other adjacent part and extendingin a respective one of the axes, the pivoting axle mounting the oneadjacent part pivotally on the other adjacent part, a pin affixed to theone adjacent part and extending transversely to the pivoting axisthrough a diametrical bore in the pivoting axle, the transverse borehaving a central straight section at the level of the pivoting axiswhose diameter is substantially equal to that of the pin, and thetransverse bore being closed off from the outside and flaring outwardlytowards the ends thereof with sufficient play between the outwardlyflaring ends and the pin to permit only a selected angular movementbetween the parts transversely of the pivoting axis.